Pregnancy glossary U - Ultrasound to Uterus

Ultrasound

Ultrasound technology has been used to image the human body for at least 50 years.
Obstetric ultrasound is mainly used to determine the date of the pregnancy, confirm the good health of the foetus,
determine the location of the pregnancy, check the location of the placenta in relation to the cervix and also check
for the number of foetuses (multiple pregnancy). It is also used to check for major abnormalities, monitor foetal
growth at different stages of the pregnancy, check for foetal movement and heartbeat and also determine the
gender of the foetus (only after 12 weeks gestation).

Umbilical cord

This is the lifeline for your
baby - connecting the fetus at its abdomen and the placenta, and giving passage to the umbilical blood vessels.
The placenta transports oxygen and nutrients from the placenta to the baby. There are normally three vessels in the
umbilical cord, two arteries and one vein.

Urinary tract infection

This is when the lining of
the bladder, urethra, ureters, and kidneys become irritated with a urinary tract infection (frequently abbreviated as
UTI). The urine may smell unusual or look cloudy. Urinary tract infections have been known to bring on premature
labor.

Uterine bleeding

The name given to any clinically significant bleeding during the
pregnancy, taking into consideration the stage of pregnancy; any second or third trimester bleeding of the uterus
prior to the onset of labor.